Flexable roller arrangement

ABSTRACT

An elongated poster support arrangement comprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a tapered sidewall. The sidewall angularly extends from the uppermost wall. A support wall is arranged adjacent said tapered sidewall to define a longitudinal chamber between the tapered sidewall and the support. A flexible gripping member is loosely disposed within the longitudinal chamber, the chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between the gripping member and the support wall. The gripping member comprises a generally cylindrically shaped roller link. The roller links are formed of resilient material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for supporting postersutilizing a formed roller arrangement for use with an extrusion by whichthe roller arrangement readily receives and releases posters from thatextrusion, and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/616,419 incorporates by reference co-pendingU.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/616,433, entitled Elongated PosterSupport Arrangement, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/616/439,entitled Pole for Poster Support Attachment and Removal.

2. Prior Art

In the merchandising field particularly as it relates to customers indepartment stores and shopping malls and the like, poster advertisementsare critical. They are changed frequently and often moved around inorder to advertise goods and to catch the customer's attention. Setupand the support assembly of these posters has to be very simple and mustbe performed by relatively low paid employees of that merchandiser orstore.

Heretofore, such support arrangements have required rather complicatedgrasping mechanisms requiring snapping open and closing various rails orextrusions to capture the poster. There are also known a variety ofso-called “roller-grip” holders which are known to be the ultimate inease-of-use, but are typically labor intensive to manufacture, and thusare prohibitively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesof the prior art.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a postersupport arrangement which will safely grasp and hold a poster insertedtherein in a safe and efficient manner.

It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide aposter support arrangement which will permit the simple removal of theposter from the support.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide aposter support arrangement which will permit the poster to be removedtherefrom and a new poster inserted without damaging the poster or thesupport arrangement.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide suchposter-gripping means in a relatively efficient to manufacture manner,and thus provide a lower cost product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a poster support arrangement for thereceipt of a flat poster therewithin and for the facile attachment ofthat elongated poster support arrangement to the poster or graphic. Theposter support arrangement of the present invention comprises anelongated extrusion having a first end and a second end. Each end, thatis, the first end and the second end may have an end cap thereon.

The extrusion has a planar, elongated upper surface wall to define anupper side thereof. A first and a second tapered side wall extend off ofthe sides of the upper wall, in an almost parallel manner. A centralsupport wall in its several preferred embodiments, extends from theupper wall or is suspended between the tapered sidewalls by anarrangement of connecting webs therewithin. The central support wall inone embodiment, has a distal or lowermost edge which extends beyond thedistalmost edge of the second tapered sidewall and the distalmost edgeof the first tapered sidewall. A narrow longitudinally extending gap isdisposed between the distalmost edge of the second tapered sidewall andthe respective side of the central support wall. A second relativelynarrow gap or open band is longitudinally disposed between the centralsupport wall and the distalmost edge or flange of the first taperedsidewall. The volume between the central support wall and the secondtapered sidewall defines a “gripping means” enclosure chamber. Thegripping means enclosure chamber is elongated and is arranged to receivea gripping means disposed longitudinally therewithin.

The gripping means in a first preferred embodiment thereof comprises anelongated, soft resilient “sausage-like” roller or link of resilientmaterial. The elongated link may be defined as a roller link made of aresilient plastic or rubber or the like which is movable with respectwithin its enclosure chamber.

The roller link arrangement may be formed as an extrusion and may have acentral bore extending therethrough. The extruded roller link may havelongitudinally directed ridges molded onto its outer cylindricalsurface.

The assembly of the poster support arrangement comprises the insertionof the elongated, resilient roller link arranged within the grippingmeans enclosure chamber and loosely disposed therewithin. The end capsmay be put on each end of the longitudinal extrusion to permit theroller link member from falling out during insertion of the poster. Theend caps may have a slot extending from an apex thereof toward the upperside of the extrusion, to permit a plurality of poster supportarrangements to hold a poster which is longer than any individual singleposter support arrangement, and for the purpose of removing the posterfrom the gripping apparatus.

A poster may be inserted within the gripping means enclosure chamberparallel to and along side the central support wall. Insertion of aposter is accommodated by the elongated roller link neatly rotatingabout its longitudinal axis and permitting the insertion of the posterthereadjacent. Gravity pulls the individual roller link towards thelowermost apex of the poster support arrangement extrusion andsufficiently secures it in a pinching manner to prevent the poster fromfalling out.

Thus what has been shown is a unique arrangement for supporting a posterwith an elongated rail in a most simple and easily usable manner.

The invention thus comprises an elongated poster support arrangementcomprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, at least onetapered sidewall, the sidewall angularly extending from the uppermostwall; a support wall arranged adjacent the tapered sidewall to define alongitudinal chamber between the tapered sidewall and the support, or apair of longitudinal chambers depending upon whether a second taperedsidewall is disposed oppositely of the support wall; and an elongated,flexible gripping roller link member loosely disposed within the/eachlongitudinal chamber and about the length of the enclosure chamber, thechamber also arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securementbetween a parallel pairing of gripping roller link members themselves oran elongated roller link member and the support wall.

The gripping members comprise an elongated, generally cylindricallyshaped roller link having a central, longitudinally directed bore. Theroller link is preferably formed of resilient material.

The invention also comprises a method of making a roller linkarrangement comprising the steps of: extruding an elongated, hollow linkof PVC material from an extrusion machine and inserting that elongatedextrusion link in an enclosure chamber.

The invention also comprises a roller link arrangement for use with agripping apparatus to permit a pinching of an item between the rollerlink and an adjacent surface, the roller link having a constantdiameter, the link arrangement comprising: an elongated, generallycylindrically shaped member of resilient material. The adjacent surfacemay comprise another set comprising a roller link disposed parallelthereto. A further embodiment includes a pair of linked elongatedrollers spaced in a parallel arrangement on opposite sides of a commonsupport wall in an extrusion, so as to insure that the posterarrangement is located exactly centrally, no matter what the thicknessof the poster(s) is(are).

The invention also comprises an elongated poster support arrangementcomprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a pair oftapered sidewalls, the sidewalls angularly extending from the uppermostwall and each having a lowermost edge, with an elongated gap betweentheir lowermost edges for receipt of a poster therewithin, the sidewallscomprising a longitudinal chamber therebetween. A pair of sets ofelongated gripping members are loosely disposed within the longitudinalchamber and parallel to one another, the chamber arranged to receive aposter therein for pinched securement between the pairs of grippingmembers. The sidewalls each have an uppermost edge spaced apart from oneanother to define a receiving slot for supporting the poster supportarrangement. The sidewalls may have an end cap mounted on each endthereof. At least one of the end caps has a slot arranged therein topermit a poster to be easily removed from the extrusion. The grippingmembers may be comprised of a elongated plurality of flexiblyinterconnected soft roller members which frictionally engage any postedinserted into the extrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a poster support arrangement constructedaccording to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the elongated extrusion of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roller link gripping means;

FIG. 4 is a view of the extrusion shown in FIG. 2, with a roller linkarrangement disposed therein;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a further embodiment of the elongated extrusionwith a double roller link arrangement disposed therein;

FIG. 5A is an end view similar to the view shown in FIG. 5, with aposter arranged between the pair of roller links arranged therein;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a further embodiment of the elongated extrusionwith a roller link arrangement therein;

FIG. 6A is an end view similar to the view shown in FIG. 6, with aposter arranged within the roller link and extrusion;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a further embodiment of the extrusion forattachment to a vertical surface;

FIG. 8 is a further embodiment of the extrusion arranged for slidingattachment to a flange member;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the extrusion and roller linkarrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the extrusion and dual rollerlink arrangement shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the extrusion and rollerarrangement shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1,there is shown the present invention which comprises a poster supportarrangement 10 for the receipt of a flat flexible poster “P”therewithin.

The poster support arrangement 10 of the present invention comprises anelongated extrusion 14 having a first end 16 and a second end 18, asshown in FIG. 1. Each end, that is, the first end 16 and the second end18 may have an end cap 20 thereon. The elongated extrusion 14 comprisingthe poster support arrangement 10 has a generally elongated, flat,uppermost side 22, as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The elongated postersupport extrusion 14 has a first tapered sidewall 24 extending from oneedge of the uppermost side 22 at an angle of about 75 degrees, as may beseen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The first tapered sidewall 24 has a lowermost ordistal edge 26 with a lip or flange 28 extending inwardly thereon. Theelongated uppermost side 22 has a second tapered sidewall 30 extendingdownwardly therefrom in an angled manner of about 75 degrees withrespect to the uppermost side 22, generally similar to the first taperedsidewall 24. The second tapered sidewall 30 has a lower or distalmostedge 32 which extends beyond the distalmost edge 26 of the first taperedsidewall 24. The distalmost edge 32 of the second tapered sidewall 30has an inwardly projecting flange 34 arranged therealong, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

An elongated central support wall 36 is disposed between the firsttapered sidewall 24 and the second tapered sidewall 30 in a mannergenerally perpendicular to the uppermost side 22. The central supportwall 36 has a first or uppermost edge 38 with a connecting support web40 unitarily extruded therewith, and is connected to an inside portionof the first tapered sidewall 24. A second connecting web 42 issimilarly connected between the central support wall 40 and is unitarywith the second tapered sidewall 30. The first and second connectingwebs 40 and 42 hold the central support wall 36 in generally rigidalignment with the first and second tapered sidewalls 24 and 30 as wellas the wall comprising the uppermost side 22.

The central support wall 36 has a distal or lowermost edge 44 whichextends beyond the distalmost edge 32 of both the second taperedsidewall 30 and the distalmost edge 26 of the first tapered sidewall 24.A narrow longitudinally extending gap 46 is disposed between thedistalmost edge 32 of the second tapered sidewall 30 and the respectiveside of the central support wall 36, as shown in FIG. 2. This gap 46permits a poster “P” to be inserted therein, as represented in FIG. 1. Asecond relatively narrow gap or open band 48 is longitudinally disposedbetween the central support wall 36 and the distalmost edge 26 andflange 28 of the first tapered sidewall 24. The volume between thecentral support wall 36 and the second tapered sidewall 30 defines a“gripping means” enclosure chamber 50, as represented in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The gripping means enclosure chamber 50 is elongated and is arranged toreceive a gripping means 52 disposed longitudinally therewithin, asshown in FIG. 4.

The gripping means 52 in a first preferred embodiment thereof comprisesan elonngated soft resilient “sausage-like” link 60 of resilientmaterial preferably having an elongated bore 62 extending therethrough,as best shown in FIG. 3. The links 60 may be defined as roller link madeof plastic or rubber or the like which are independently movable withinthe chamber 50. Each elongated roller link 60 is preferably about thelength of the extrusion chamber 50 into which it will mate. The roller60 is preferably of a constant diameter.

The assembly of the poster support arrangement 10 comprises theinsertion of an elongated resilient roller link 60 arranged within thegripping means enclosure chamber 50 and loosely disposed therewithin, asis represented in several preferred embodiments in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.The end caps 20 may be put on each end 16 and 18 of the longitudinalextrusion 14 to prevent the roller link members 60 from falling outduring lifting of the poster support arrangement 10 onto a ceiling rail.The end caps 20 may have a slot 23 extending from an apex 25 thereoftoward the upper side of the extrusion, as shown in FIG. 1. The slots 23permit a plurality of poster support arrangements to hold a poster whichis longer than any individual single poster support arrangement, andalso permit removal of a poster from the extrusion by sliding the postersideways out of the extrusion.

A poster “P” may be inserted within the gripping means enclosure chamber50 parallel to and along side the central support wall 36, as shown inFIG. 4. Insertion of a poster is accommodated by the roller link 60neatly rotating about its internal longitudinally directed bore 62 andpermitting the insertion of the poster “P” thereadjacent. Gravity pullsthe roller link 60 towards the lowermost apex of the poster supportarrangement extrusion 14, as shown in FIG. 4, and sufficiently securesit in a pinching manner to prevent the poster “P” from falling out whenit is in its overhead location on a ceiling rail.

A further embodiment of the poster support arrangement 10 is shown inFIG. 5 wherein an extrusion is comprised of a pair of opposed “C” shapedextrusions 80 are connected by a first transverse member 82, and whichis reinforced by a pair of back-to-back “L” shaped webs 84 and 86connected to and spaced between the “C” shaped extrusions 80. Theextrusions 80 each have a lower edge 88 which between them, define alongitudinal gap 90. A pair of elongated roller members 92 and 94(gripping means) are movably enclosed between the spaced apart “C”shaped extrusions 80 and the “L” shaped webs 84 and 86, comprising thegripping means enclosure chamber 52, of the present embodiment. A slot98 is disposed along the upper edge 100 of the extrusion for receipt ofan inverted “T” shaped support, not shown. FIG. 5A shows a poster “P”effectively pinched between the elongated roller members 92 and 94within the chamber 52, the roller members 92 and 94 being held bygravity and by their respective frictional engagement with the inside ofthe walls of the “C” shaped extrusion 80.

A similar preferred embodiment is represented in FIGS. 6 and 6A whereina poster support arrangement 10 is comprised of a pair of opposed “C”shaped extrusions 106 connected by a first transverse member 108 andreinforced by a “J” shaped web 110 and a “Z” shaped web 112. A grippingmeans enclosing chamber 52 is arranged between the inside wall of one ofthe “C” shaped extrusions 80 as shown in FIG. 6 and 6A to enclose anelongated roller member 114, comprising the gripping means. A poster “P”is shown inserted through an elongated space 116 at the lower side ofthe “C” shaped extrusions 80, as shown in FIG. 6A. The poster “P” isthus pinched by the roller member 114 wedged between the inner loweredge of the one wall of the “C” shaped extrusion and the “J” shaped web.Pulling downwardly on the poster would only cause the gripping effect toincrease. The roller member 114 would have to be moved upwardly, or theposter “P” slid to the side to best remove it.

Further embodiments are shown of the poster support arrangement 10, inFIGS. 7 and 8. In each preferred embodiment, a single elongated rollermember 120 is disposed at the lower portion of a gripping means chamber52, positioned against a support wall 122 and the lower inner edge ofthe extrusion wall 124. The embodiment in FIG. 7 may have an adhesive ormagnetic attachment strip 126 on its outer surface of its support wall122 to permit it to be attached to a vertical wall, not shown. Theembodiment shown in FIG. 8 has an elongated flange 128 extending from anupper side of the extrusion wall 124 to permit the poster supportarrangement 10 to engage a horizontally disposed receiving flange, notshown. A poster would be slid between the roller member 120 and thesupport wall 122 in each of the embodiments represented in FIGS. 7 and8, and would thus be frictionally engaged therebetween until the rollermember 120 is moved upwardly or the poster slid to the side and out ofthe extrusion.

FIG. 9 represents the poster support arrangement embodiment shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4, in an “exploded” manner. The end cap 20 is spaced fromthe walls 30 and 24 and the roller member 60 comprising the grippingmeans 52 is shown pulled slightly out of its enclosure 50.

FIG. 10 represents the poster support arrangement 10 shown in FIGS. 5and 5A, in an exploded perspective view. The set of elongated rollermembers 92 and 94 are displayed as parallel to one another in anenclosure chamber 50 common to both sets of elongated roller members 92and 94. FIG. 11 represents the poster support arrangement 10 shown in anexploded view in FIG. 7, without a poster shown disposed therein, forclarity of viewing.

1. An elongated poster support arrangement comprising: an elongatedextrusion having an uppermost wall, at least one tapered sidewall, saidsidewall angularly extending from said uppermost wall; a support wallarranged adjacent said tapered sidewall to define a longitudinal chamberbetween said tapered sidewall and said support; and an elongatedflexible gripping member loosely disposed within said longitudinalchamber, said chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinchedsecurement between said gripping member and said support wall.
 2. Theelongated poster support arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein saidgripping member comprises a generally cylindrically shaped roller linkhaving a bore extending longitudinally therethrough.
 3. The elongatedposter support arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein said rollerlink is formed of resilient material.
 4. The elongated poster supportarrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein said roller link is of aconstant outer diameter.
 5. The elongated poster support arrangement asrecited in claim 4, wherein said roller link extends the length of saidenclosure chamber.
 6. The elongated poster support arrangement asrecited in claim 3, wherein said roller link is of generally cylindricalshape.
 7. A roller link arrangement for use with a gripping apparatus topermit a pinching of an item between a roller link and an adjacentsurface, said roller link having a constant diameter, said linkarrangement comprising: an elongated cylindrically shaped member ofresilient material having a central bore extending therethrough.
 8. Theroller link arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said adjacentsurface comprises a further elongated roller link.
 9. An elongatedposter support arrangement comprising: an elongated extrusion having anuppermost wall, a pair of tapered sidewalls, said sidewalls angularlyextending from said uppermost wall and each having a lowermost edge,with an elongated gap between their lowermost edges for receipt of aposter therewithin, said sidewalls comprising a longitudinal chambertherebetween; a pair of flexible elongated connected gripping membersloosely disposed within said longitudinal chamber and parallel to oneanother, said chamber arranged to receive a poster therein for pinchedsecurement between said pairs of gripping members.
 10. The elongatedposter support arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein said sidewallseach have an uppermost edge spaced apart from one another to define areceiving slot for supporting said poster support arrangement.
 11. Theelongated poster support arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein saidsidewalls have an end cap mounted on each end thereof.
 12. The elongatedposter support arrangement as recited in claim 11, wherein at least oneof said end caps has a slot arranged therein to permit a poster to beremoved from said extrusion.
 13. The elongated poster supportarrangement as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said grippingmembers comprises an elongated flexible, soft roller member whichfrictionally engage any posted inserted into said extrusion.